CARTIER. MONTRE BRACELET EN OR JAUNE 18K (750) RECTANGULAIRE ET REVERSIBLE MOUVEMENT MECANIQUE

CARTIER. AN 18K GOLD MANUAL WIND REVERSIBLE RECTANGULAR WRISTWATCH Tank Basculante, Circa 1990

CARTIER. AN 18K GOLD MANUAL WIND REVERSIBLE RECTANGULAR WRISTWATCH
Model: Tank Basculante
Date: Circa 1990
Movement: Jewelled manual wind
Dial: Silvered with guilloché engraved centre, black Roman numerals, secret signature at 7, black inner minute track with 5 minute markers, blued steel sword hands
Case: Brushed and polished reversible rectangular, cabochon set below 6, monogram to reverse, No.A106740
Strap/Bracelet: Burgundy Cartier alligator leather
Buckle/Clasp: Signed 18K gold folding clasp
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 23mm x 30mm

The Tank Basculante was first designed in 1932 and was aimed at an elite clientele looking to protect their timepieces from impact whilst predominantly playing sport. The case is composed of 3 parts allowing the central body to be inverted in order to present a smooth solid case back thus protecting the more vulnerable glass side.

Due to its similar first introduction date, the Tank Basculante is often compared with the 1931 Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. Although sharing a similar goal, the Basculante differs from the Reverso in several key ways. In particular the method used to invert the case on the Basculante is via a swinging frame that pulls the central body out towards you before flipping and replacing. In comparison the Reverso is set within a track that allows you to slide the body out to the side before turning over.

The original production of the Basculante was quite limited before being briefly revived in the 1990s, when the current example was produced.